The Middle East just entered a highly volatile new phase.
During a call-in interview with Fox News, US President Donald Trump dropped a major claim: Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's newly named Supreme Leader, is "90% gone". According to Trump, the coordinated military campaign by the US and Israel has completely shattered Iran’s command structure, leaving its military capabilities in absolute ruins. You might also find this similar article insightful: Why Congress Is Still Trying To Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent.
"They have no navy. They have no air force. It's all gone," Trump asserted. "Their anti-aircraft is gone. Their leaders have all been killed... Khomeini is gone, the son is 90% gone".
While the White House is projecting absolute triumph, the reality on the ground is far more complicated, dangerous, and unpredictable than a single phone call to Fox News suggests. This is what is actually happening behind the scenes of the US-Iran escalation, the truth about Mojtaba's physical condition, and why the battle for the Strait of Hormuz is about to get much more expensive for the rest of the world. As discussed in latest articles by NPR, the implications are worth noting.
The Mystery of Mojtaba Khamenei
Let's look at the facts first. Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old Shiite cleric who has spent decades pulling strings in the background of Iran’s intelligence apparatus, was officially named Iran’s third Supreme Leader in March. This came just days after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed during a massive US-Israeli aerial bombardment.
But since taking the title, Mojtaba has been a ghost.
He was notably absent from his own father's high-profile state funeral ceremonies held across Iran and Iraq. While his three brothers—Mostafa, Meysam, and Masoud—stood publicly by the coffins in Tehran, Mojtaba was nowhere to be seen.
So, is he dead, dying, or just hiding?
Intel reports suggest Mojtaba is actively recovering from severe, near-fatal wounds suffered during the initial February airstrikes. The US government is taking his potential survival seriously enough to place a $10 million bounty on information leading to his exact whereabouts.
While he is physically incapacitated, his digital footprint remains active. In a recent written statement posted to his official Telegram channel, Mojtaba urged the nation to avenge his father’s death, calling the retaliation "the demand of the nation".
The fact that he cannot or will not appear on camera tells us all we need to know. Whether he is "90% gone" physically or just politically paralyzed, Iran is operating under an unprecedented leadership vacuum.
The Blockade and the 20% Security Tax
Trump isn't just focusing on the leadership vacuum. He is leveraging this moment to completely rewrite the rules of global maritime trade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump announced that the US is reinstating a strict "Iranian blockade" to choke off what is left of Tehran's oil exports. But the real kicker is how he plans to fund it.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump declared the US military as the self-appointed "Guardian of the Hormuz Strait" and demanded that any country using the waterway must pay a 20% reimbursement tariff based on the value of their cargo to fund US naval protection.
"The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran," Trump wrote. "All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait."
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Unsurprisingly, this unilateral tax has caused panic in global shipping markets and met immediate resistance.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi fired back on social media, reminding the world that Iran has historically secured the passage. "Iran has always been the GUARDIAN of the Strait and will remain so FOREVER," Araghchi posted, mockingly adding, "20% is, of course, too much. We will be fair".
What the Competitor Missed: The Economic Reality
While corporate news outlets focus entirely on the military theater, they are completely ignoring the economic devastation that is currently driving Iran's desperation.
Trump pointed out a staggering metric that explains why the regime is backing itself into a corner: Iran's inflation rate has rocketed to an unbelievable 350%, up from just 5% six months ago.
When a country's currency collapses to this degree, the government loses control. The escalating strikes on shipping containers in the Gulf, such as Iran's recent missile hit on a container ship off the Omani coast, are not signs of military strength. They are desperate, asymmetric attempts to force the international community back to the negotiating table by threatening the global oil supply.
The temporary 60-day US-Iran interim peace agreement is officially dead. It has been entirely replaced by a tit-for-tat cycle of missile exchanges, blockade enforcement, and rising energy costs.
What Happens Next
The assumption that Iran is completely neutralized is a dangerous gamble. Even with its air force and traditional navy heavily degraded, Iran's ballistic missile stockpiles, drone capabilities, and regional proxy networks remain highly lethal.
If you are tracking this conflict, here are the key markers to watch over the coming days:
- Shipping Costs: Watch for major international shipping lines rerouting away from the Persian Gulf to avoid the proposed US transit fees and Iranian retaliatory strikes.
- Proof of Life: Look for any verified video or audio release from Mojtaba Khamenei. If he fails to make an appearance to address the "90% gone" claims, it confirms he is either dead or permanently incapacitated.
- The 20% Tariff Pushback: Watch how US allies like Japan, South Korea, and European nations respond to Trump's demand for naval protection fees. Expect fierce diplomatic resistance to this maritime tax.
The conflict is no longer just about regional borders or nuclear enrichment. It is a direct battle for the financial control of the world’s most critical energy transit corridor.
